BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 16 2025
After a mostly cool and wet spring, dry conditions statewide have recently ramped up into a drought and increased fire risk. They’re also threatening crops, leading growers to worry about their water supplies while choosing which crops to water and which to let die. The entire Maine coast is in a moderate drought as of Friday, according to the National Weather Service, with much of the state “abnormally dry” farther north. Conditions are likely to get worse in the next few weeks, without any signs of significant rain ahead, the weather service warned late this week. Down East, blueberries shriveled, tree leaves wilted and grass died, reports said; in greater Bangor, plants wilted, some crops died and fruit appeared dry in what some observers said were the driest conditions they have seen. Moderate drought conditions lead to lower yields for hay and grain growers, stress trees and hinder honey production.